Hope for Women in Recovery
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Hosts Arizona Summit
June 29, 2004
WASHINGTON—On June 29 and 30, the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) hosted a two-day summit at the Regency Hyatt in downtown Phoenix, Ariz., to bring women in treatment together with experts in addiction and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), state legislators and state agencies. The summit is the second in a series, the first of which took place in Maryland and served as a pilot project in the national effort to combat FASD. The event is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FASD Center for Excellence.
"It is time for Arizona to get proactive in preventing FASD. Arizona spends millions annually to treat thousands of women for addiction disorders, yet, tragically, women receive little education on the effects of alcohol on the developing fetus," said Kathleen Mitchell, director of the Women's Summit and national spokesperson for NOFAS. "Many women leave treatment still convinced that as long as they don't use illicit drugs while pregnant, their child is safe, and that beer and wine don't count. Nothing could be further from the truth. As long as they drink, their children are at risk."
An estimated 40,000 infants are born with alcohol-related birth defects every year in the United States. FASD is the leading known preventable cause of mental retardation, birth defects and learning disabilities. Despite the statistics, there is a lack of prenatal education, health care and treatment for those at risk or affected. In Arizona alone, millions of dollars are spent each year to cover the needs of affected children through special education, mental and physical health care, shelter costs and additional costs associated with their likely involvement in the juvenile justice system.
The first day of the summit brought women currently in addiction treatment in Arizona face to face with FASD experts. It featured a town hall meeting to provide women the opportunity to share their experiences with addiction and the effects of alcohol on their own children. The summit also featured presentations from leading FASD experts, including Kathy Mitchell, NOFAS vice president and national spokeswoman; Ardyce Turner, Office of Children's Services; Candace Shelton, FASD Center for Excellence; and Suzanne Kuerschner, among others.
"It takes a brave person to speak about personal addiction and adversity, especially when it affects their children," said NOFAS Executive Director Tom Donaldson. "It is through their bravery that Arizona regulators, legislators and policy makers will hear the truth: Any amount of alcohol is a threat to an unborn child, and its consequences place a severe burden on the state."
The second day of the summit included a keynote address given by Lieutenant Governor Mary Thomas. Additionally, a panel featured Senator Robert Cannel and State Representative Linda Lopez; the Honorable Joni Ramos, president of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community; and various state department representatives who have a vested interest in the issue. They discussed the action steps that have been taken by the state of Arizona and their continuing commitment to FASD prevention.
NOFAS is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and dedicated to eliminating birth defects caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy and to improving the quality of life for those individuals and families affected by FASD.
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